A doctor has issued a warning that certain signs accompanying a headache may require immediate attention from your GP. While most headaches are “harmless,” the expert cautions that “if someone experiences a new headache or unusual features, these should be evaluated further.”
Sharing insights on TikTok, Doctor Bing highlighted “three headache symptoms that should never be ignored.” So, what are they?
1. Thunderclap headaches
The doctor warns this type of headache “reaches a pain level of 10 out of 10 within a minute, and people often describe it as the worst headache of their lives.” Due to the intensity of the pain, the doctor says: “The most important thing here is to rule out a subarachnoid haemorrhage usually caused by a ruptured aneurysm. But there can be other causes as well.”
A subarachnoid haemorrhage is a rare type of stroke resulting from bleeding on the brain’s surface. According to the NHS, it is a life-threatening condition that can be fatal.
The doctor further explains that other possible causes “includes things like RCVS, which is intermittent narrowing of the blood vessels in the brain as well as cerebral venous thrombosis, which is a clot in a major vein in the brain.”
He also notes that the likelihood of developing a new primary headache, like a migraine, decreases with age. As a result, secondary causes—such as hematomas, brain tumors, and infections, among others—must be carefully ruled out.
2. Are you over 50?
You should also be aware that if you are over 50 and have a new headache and vision changes, you should see a doctor. You should also keep an eye out for scalp tenderness and pain whilst chewing.
The doctor warns it could be giant cell arteritis. He explains: “This is an inflammatory condition of the blood vessels and can lead to permanent blindness if not treated quickly with high dose steroids.”
3. Eye symptoms with a headache
In his third and final warning, the health guru says that if you have a headache with a “drooping of one eyelid, dilation of that pupil and double vision”, then seek medical help.
He warns: “I specifically mentioned this because it’s one of the few times that we can catch a brain aneurysm before it ruptures. The specific set of symptoms can be caused by an aneurysm compressing on the third cranial nerve.” This needs to be treated urgently, he stresses.
What can cause headaches?
The NHS says that common causes of headaches include: